At times of war, the direction
of war in Finland was concentrated in the headquarters which consisted of the General
Staff and other organs belonging to the main staff and the War Ministry in time of peace.

Mannerheim conducted the warfare from these headquarters in 1918 (War of Independence),
1939-1940 (Winter War) and 1941-1945 (Continuation War).

During the period of general
alarm in October 1939, the headquarters, established in Helsinki, were transferred to
Mikkeli in early December, and remained there until the end of the war. At the outbreak of
the Continuation War, the headquarters were re-established in Mikkeli and remained in that
town till the end of war activities, i.e. till 1945.

Mannerheims most important aids in matters of military policy were Erik Heinrichs
(commander of the Karelian Army 1941, later Chief of General Staff 1942-1944), and in
operational planning Aksel Airo (Quartermaster General).

The
innermost circle around the Commander-in-Chief was called "Marshals
Court", mostly on account of strictly defined manners of behaviour and etiquette. The
most renowned example was the full glass of Marshals Drink with its specific
ingredients, a tradition which goes back to the custom in the Russian Imperial Army of
pouring the liquor glasses to the brim.